Plug cock



Nov. 15, 1949 G. E. FRANCK 2,488,283

PLUG COCK Filed oct. 5, 1946 www a packing ring 22 and a spring 23 holding such packing in place.

Within the tapered chamber I there is a valve plug 24, said plug having the same taper as the taper of the chamber, and the plug is fitted snugly Within the wall of the chamber and in the course of manufacture is lapped to make a fluid-,tight fit.

A passage extends axially through the plug from the small end or bottom thereof to a point approximately midway in the plug, where said passage turns at right angles and progresses radially through the plug, terminating in an opening in the wall of the plug, said opening being adapted to register with one of the inlet passages II, I2 or I3 when the' plug is seated in the chamber I5. At its large nd'the plug is provided with a shoulder 26 and an axially extending ange 21 spaced radially inwardly relative tothe adjacent outer periphery of the plug. This flange provides a central pocket 28 whichA is designed to receive one end of the valve stern 29 with a relatively loose sloppy fit. The stem is provided with a handle 30 secured thereto by means" of a screw 3l, said handle enabling the valve stem to be turned in either direction.

That portion'of the stem within the pocket 28 is further provided with a lateral passage, and the flange 21 is likewise provided with oppositely disposed lateral passages in such position that they` can be aligned with the lateral passage in the stem. A pin 32' extends through the lateral passage of the stem and outwardly through the passages in the flange, thereby securing the stem to the plug With a loose iioating fit, but at the1 same time permitting the plug to be rotated by means-of thestem and preventing the withdrawal of the stem from the plug. As shown in Figures 2 and'3 the pin 32Yextends out beyond the ange sitely disposed notches 35, a, 36 and 36a are formed in the underneath valve side of the an- ;nuljar flange 34. -These notches arev spaced ninety degrees from each other` around said annular 1 flange, and are each of a size adapted to receive the ends of the pin 32, which ends project beyond the flange 21. The annular ange 34 is also provided with a lug 31, and the valve body is provided with a niche Aor detent 38 designed to receive said lug and so positioned that when the washer is within the recess in the valve body and vthe ends of the pin 32 engage one of the pairs of notches 35 orv 36, the opening to the passage 25 will register with one of the inlet openings II, I2 and I3 or with the portion ofthe valve body rests against: the raised portion 33 of the washer 'I0 opposite the inlet opening I2, The spring 23 4 and acts to urge said washer downwardly as shown in Figure 2. Thus it will be seen that such washer is axially movable, but is not rotatable with the valve stem, being non-rotatably fixed by means of the lug 31 and the niche 38.

As the valve stem 29 is turned, the annular flange 34 of the washer will ride upon the projecting portion of the pin 32, and when the pin 32 approaches one of the oppositely disposed pairs of notches, said pin will be yieldably engaged by said notch. As heretofore explained, the parts are so arranged that when this happens one of the inlet passages I I, I2 or I3, or the shut-off portion opposite lthe inlet passage I2 is in registry with the lateral opening of the passage 25 through the plug 24. Consequently when the pin 32 is engaged by one of the pairs vof notches the Valve is positioned in one of a plurality of on positions, or is shut off. This construction provides an audible indication of the positioning of the valve, as the spring 23 causes the notches to engage the pin with a, distinct clicking sound which may be clearly heard. Furthermore there is a feel or contact indication when said valve is positioned, as the spring 23 combines with the notches to frictionally though yieldably hold the projecting ends of the pins within the notches.

A further feature of my improved plug cock is that the notches provide a camming action, for as the pin rides along the annular flange 34 and approaches one of the pairs'of notches its proper engagement with said notches is aided by the action of the spring and the sloping sides of the notches. Proper registry of the valve openings is thereby insured.

The pin 32, therefore, serves to hold the valve stem 29 in place and also aids in positioning the valve, and the spring 23 serves to hold the packing 2I in place and also acts to exert pressure on the valve positioning washer, thereby causing an audible indication when the valve is properly positioned, causing a feel or contact indication when the valve is in position, and assisting in the camming action in properly positioning the valve.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, it is shown in the drawing and hereinabove described in a preferred embodiment. It is not intended, however, vthat the invention is to be limited thereby to the specific construction disclosed. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all modications and alternative constructions, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A plug cock comprising a body portion having a tapered chamber with a recess at one end thereof and having a plurality of inlet passages /and an outlet passage communicating with the chamber, a bonnet attached to the body closing the recess, a tapered valve element seated in said chamber, said valve element having a passage therethrough adapted selectively to connect said inlet passages with said outlet passage, a stem extending from the chamber through the-bonnet, said valve element having an annular axially eX- tending flange forming a central pocket at one end adapted loosely to receive one end of the stem and diametrically opposedradial passages through said flange, said stem having a corresponding diametrical passage, a pin projecting through said passages for loosely securing the stem to thervalve element, said pin being rotatable with said stem and having both ends extending radially outwardly of said flange, a valve positioning means surrounding the stem including a fiat washer portion fixed against rotation within said recess but axially movable and bearing on said pin and a cupped portion bearing on said washer portion but clearing said axially extending flange, said Washer portion having a plurality of recesses adapted yieldably to engage said pin, and a compression spring surrounding said stem and bearing at its inner end on the cupped portion of said valve positioning means to maintain the washer portion thereof bearing yieldably on said pin and through said pin urging said valve element into the chamber.

2. A plug cock comprising a body portion having a tapered chamber with a recess at one end thereof and having a plurality of inlet passages and an outlet passage communicating with the chamber, a bonnet attached to the body closing the recess, a tapered valve element seated in said chamber, said valve element having a passage therethrough adapted selectivelyT to connect said inlet passages with said outlet passage, a stem extending from the chamber through the bonnet, said valve element having an annular axially extending flange forming a central pocket at one end adapted loosely to receive one end of the stem and diametrically opposed radial passages through said flange, said stem having a corresponding diametrical passage, a pin projecting through said passages for loosely securing the stem to the valve element, said pin being rotatable with said stem and having both ends extending radially outwardly of said flange, a valve positioning member surrounding said stem having a flange portion bearing on said pin and a cupped portion adapted to clear said axially extending flange, said flange portion having a plurality of recesses adapted yieldably to engage said pin, cooperating means on said flange portion and said body portion retaining said washer against rotation while permitting axial movement thereof, and spring means urging said valve positioning member inwardly to maintain the iiange portion thereof bearing yieldably on said pin and through said pin urging said valve element into the chamber.

3. A plug cock comprising a body portion having a tapered chamber with a recess at one end thereof and having a plurality of inlet passages and an outlet passage communicating with the chamber, a bonnet attached to the body closing the recess, a tapered valve element seated in said chamber, said valve element having a passage therethrough adapted selectively to connect said inlet passages with said outlet passage, a stem extending from the chamber through the bonnet, said valve element having a central pocket at the valve stem end adapted loosely to receive one end of the stem and diametrically opposed radial passages leading from the pocket, said stem having a corresponding diametrical passage, a pin engaging said passages for loosely securing the stem to the valve element and being rotatable with said stem, a valve positioning means surrounding the stem including a washer-like element xed against rotation Within said recess, said washer-like element having a plurality of rotation limiting means adapted to be engaged by said pin as said valve is rotated, and spring means urging said washer-like element inwardly toward said valve element and through said pin urging said valve element into the chamber.

GEORGE E. FRANCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,030,150 Mueller Feb. 11, 1936 2,161,523 Moecker June 6, 1939 2,198,386 Heister Apr. 23, 1940 2,217,963 Mueller Oct. 15, 1940 2,314,512 Parker Mar. 23, 1943 2,383,054 Franck Aug. 21, 1945 

